Alburgh

March 2021 Minutes

Posted on by jackie

1019

ALBURGH PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Alburgh Parish Council meeting held on Thursday, 4th March, 2021 at 7.30pm by video conferencing.

 

Parish Councillors present:

Mr. Soanes: Chairman, Mr. Denny, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Gladden-Fenn, Mrs. Hair

Also attending:  Jackie Ellis: Clerk, Chris Brown: District Councillor, 5 members of the public

 

  1. Welcome by the Chairman

Mr. Soanes welcomed everyone to the meeting

 

  1. To receive apologies for absence – Councillor Davis, Margaret Stone: County Councillor

 

  1. To receive declarations of interest in items on the agenda – None

 

  1. To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 4th February 2021 – These were approved and signed by Mr. Soanes, the chairman as a correct record.

 

  1. Vacancy for Vice Chairman/Vacancy for councillor has been advertised in parish magazine

The position for vice chairman will be carried forward to next month.

We have a member of the public in attendance who is interested in becoming a parish councillor and has come along tonight to listen.

 

  1. Open Forum for Public Participation: an opportunity to hear from members of the public

It was asked if we could put a piece in the parish magazine to inform parishioners about how they join our parish council meetings on zoom. This was agreed.

A member of the public also asked if we could consider asking for a new style post box for the southern end of the village which will be closer to the businesses and Station Road.  At present the only post box is at the village hall. The one at Low Ditch Cross road is no longer fit for purpose as it cannot take anything larger than a very thin small envelope. It was agreed we would make enquiries.

 

  1. To discuss matters arising from the minutes not on the agenda

The Street sign at its junction with Mill Road has been replaced.

We have enquired about the weight limit and additional signs for the village.  To date we have only received an acknowledgement that this is still being looked in to by the team.

Enquiries have also been made if anything can be done about the amount of litter that is being left in the village. Discussions on how this matter seems to be getting worse. Chris Brown advised that we could report this to SNC as street cleaning is their responsibility.

 

  1. To receive inspection report on the playing field and record any issues

Mrs. Davis did inspection and had previously reported to the chairman that all was clean and tidy and there were no problems.

 

  1. To discuss the picnic site following recent flooding

There is a long line of wire fencing with fence posts attached in the river and under the old bridge.  As the river is still high it is difficult to sort this now.  David Denny will make enquiries as to who the land owner is where the fence came from.

The barriers still need to be erected to stop people getting on to the grass.  This will be done in due course.  The grass has become very churned up where cars have driven on.  David Denny will arrange with a volunteer for the ground to be seeded and Glen Soanes offered top soil for this which he has spare.

 

  1. To receive reports from District and County Councillors

County Councillor Margaret Stone sent a full report which can be found on our website and Alburgh Talk.

 

 

 

1020

 

District Councillor Chris Brown reported that SNC budget has been agreed. Information on SNC website.

SNC are producing a new plan document that will identify land for new homes in appropriate villages across South Norfolk.  This plan will be called the south Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan.  The proposed sites will be published in May/June when consultations will take place.  Cllr Brown will let us know when this happens.

 

We have received an email from CPRE, Campaign to protect rural England asking if we wish to support its campaign aimed at ensuring that no new sites are allocated for house building in revised local plans to 2038 until all existing allocations in current core strategies have been developed.  The majority of parish councillors wished to support this.

 

A member of the public expressed concern that she did not know anything about the discussion re the CPRE email and felt that was something that the village should know about and that we had not included the public in an open discussion.  The chairman explained the situation and it was agreed we would forward her the email.  If anyone else wishes to see this, please let the clerk know.

 

  1. To discuss Planning Applications received since last meeting

Ref:  2021/0271, 11 The Street, Alburgh.  Proposal:  single storey front extension

Parish councillors recommendation was to support this application.

Decisions made by SNC:

Ref:  2020/2388, Agricultural Buildings at Friends Farm, The Street, Alburgh.  Refused.

 

  1. Payments to be made since last meeting and record money received

Clerk salary £156.00, allowance £26.00

            Norfolk Parish Training & Support Subscription £65.00

 

  1. Urgent Other Business; For discussion/information only – None

 

  1. To agree items for the next meeting

To elect new councillor/vice chair

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 1st April 2021 at 7.30pm via Zoom in line with Covid 19 regulations.

 

  1. Close of Meeting

Mr. Soanes thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 8.10pm.

 

 

 

Mr. Soanes, Chairman – 1st April, 2021.